IBM Reinforces Development and Public Service Program in Africa

IBM announced today that they will double the number of persons they deem as “emerging leaders” which they send on pro-bono assignments to Africa over the course of the next three years.

The program is called Corporate Services Corps (CSC) which IBM says is aimed at developing leaders within the company that provides skilled assistance to local government, and non-government organizations in emerging markets. IBM says they will send roughly around 600 employees to Africa from now until 2015.

A team of emerging leaders being sent to Africa will work on projects such as Pink Ribbon Red Ribbon (a cervical cancer initiative). The team is said to create a business plan for organization which will help participating organizations to share objectives.

In a company statement, IBM said, “The world is discovering Africa’s potential, and IBM is uniquely poised to help the region meet its growing demands. IBM’s Corporate Service Corps program helps lay the groundwork with communities by strengthening relationships with government officials and local partners, while providing IBM employees with a unique leadership development experience,” said Bruno Di Leo, General Manager, IBM Growth Markets Unit. “As IBM targets more growth and emerging markets, leadership programs such as the Corporate Service Corps are vital to help train our employees on growth market environments and development opportunities.”

IBM says that since the inception of its CSC program in 2008 that they have sent almost 1,400 IBM employees around the world to participate in projects. The number of countries visited by employees participating in the CSC program is 24 according to IBM, and more than 120 team projects have been assigned to date.

In another company statement, IBM said, “Expanding the Corporate Service Corps will differentiate IBM by providing us with a next generation of skilled leaders while helping nations around the world solve their most pressing problems,” said Stanley S. Litow, IBM Vice President of Corporate Citizenship and Corporate Affairs, and President of the IBM Foundation. “This is a model that increasingly our clients will be emulating. Given that IBM anticipates 30 percent of its geographic revenue will be tied to emerging markets by 2015, the Corporate Service Corps allows IBM to do well by doing good — especially in Africa.”